Casio America, Inc. teamed up with national non-profit Little Kids Rock and Disney/Own star Roshon Fegan to surprise over 500 students from Magnolia Science Academy 8-Bell in Los Angeles for Music In Our Schools Month on March 14, 2018. Billed as a "routine" school assembly, the unsuspecting students got the thrill of a lifetime when "Shake It Up", "Camp Rock" and "Greenleaf" star Roshon Fegan snuck on stage to give a live performance and gift enough Casio CT-X700 Series keyboards to give all of the school's 170 "Modern Band" music program students access to an instrument.

"Giving back to the next generation of musicians is so important to Casio," said Stephen Schmidt, Vice President of Casio's Electronic Musical Instrument Division. "Partnering with organizations like Little Kids Rock and performers like Roshon, who is a featured Casio artist, ensures that we are collectively helping to impact local communities in a positive way through music. This donation is just one way to thank young impressionable students and help them to grow into artists that continue to believe in making music and will one day hopefully give back to the next generation of musicians."

Countless studies show that kids who have access to music education in schools do better academically and socially. Little Kids Rock developed the nationally renowned Modern Band programs that reach over 650,000 students across the country and that teach kids to play culturally relevant music they already know and love, like pop, hip-hop, country, rock and R & B. Kids become proficient while playing the music that inspires them, and participation in Modern Band increases their engagement with school, learning and inclusion, while fostering critical 21st century skills like teamwork, creativity and communication.

"Little Kids Rock is grateful to receive Casio's continued support and commitment to empowering young music makers in Los Angeles and across the country," says Little Kids Rock CEO and Founder David Wish. "By supporting the Modern Band program at Magnolia Science Academy 8-Bell and donating these state-of-the art instruments, they are ensuring that these students will have access to a first-rate and entirely new type of music program in their community."

The CT-X series of keyboards features advanced specifications for serious beginners to seasoned performers and players. All models feature the new AiX Sound Source which leverages expertise that Casio accumulated in developing sound sources for its digital pianos. The AiX Sound Source allows the CT-X keyboards to faithfully reproduce the appealing sound of acoustic instruments such as guitars, drums, basses, brass, wind instruments, string ensembles and more. The CT-X series provides high-performance Digital Signal Processor (DSP) effects that combine various algorithms to realize the perfect effect for each instrument sound. The CT-X700's stunning instrument tones are perfect for beginners or advanced players that need an affordable and portable instrument.

To learn more about Casio's full portfolio of electronic musical instruments, please visit www.casiomusicgear.com.

About Casio America, Inc.
Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957, Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to fulfill its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit casio.com/home.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming kids' lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. As the leader in inclusive, culturally-responsive, student-centered music education, the organization partners with public school districts to build music programs as diverse as the students being served. Little Kids Rock trains teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates accompanying instruments and resources as necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to nearly 400,000 public school children annually through the efforts of more than 2,300 teachers in 270 school districts across 45 states. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 650,000 students. More info at www.littlekidsrock.org.